No successful business owner reached their goals alone. We are supported not just by our external communities and networks – but our TEAMS. And our guest today is a trailblazer when it comes to building smart, rock-solid teams.

But how can you create a high-functioning, loyal team of people around you who care about the success of your business as much as you do?

Kristy Smith of Virtual Elves knows exactly how – as she has provided hundreds of clients with outsourced, highly skilled VAs. She is an expert on creating a loyal and supportive team culture and has so much to share with you about how to hire, manage, and grow with your team.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• The invisible ties that keep you focused on the WRONG things in business and how the “30% Burden” creeps up and steals your time
• How to strategically identify what is taking your focus and preventing you from stepping into the CEO role (+ what needs to shift!)
• The “SADD” method: Kristy’s sworn-by framework that you should run EVERY task in your business through (this will make your business more efficient, and it will make you LESS sad )
• Why leaning on people around you – and constructing a support system – is essential to free your time
• How Kristy has developed such incredible loyalty within her team (with multiple team members working with her over a decade) – and why team culture is key
• The big mistake business owners make when outsourcing team members, and why transactional thinking can backfire
• How to prepare in advance to onboard, and why cultivating systems beforehand is essential
• The 3 things you need to do before hiring anyone (or hiring anyone ELSE!)
• Why building strategically over time and putting in place a strong foundation has paid off for Kristy in the long run (tortoise > hare)
• How Kristy built a team culture so good that all of her current managerial positions started not as new hires, but as loyal team members with potential
• And so, so much more

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Need a highly-qualified VA? Check out Virtual Elves today

Download your Ultimate Hire A VA Guide

You deserve a team that FREES your time — which means hiring the right people at the right time. But, many business owners struggle with hiring and managing their people – causing higher staff turnover, less commitment, and more work landing on your plate.

Because let’s be honest… most of us were never taught how to hire, delegate, lead, or let people go.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the five most essential hires you need to make your business profitable AND sustainable – EVEN IF you’ve hired before and it didn’t work out.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• The crucial hire most business owners delay for too long (it will instantly free up 10 hours of your week!)
• Why this unexpected hire (that doesn’t “technically” relate to business) will transform your output and ability to keep a clear head
• How hidden burdens are affecting the capacity you have to grow your business and lead your team (these are UNFAIR, but true)
• The trick to getting OUT of the weeds and stopping getting stuck doing $10/hour tasks instead of playing the CEO role
• What happens when every client question, email, or calendar invite needs to go through you first – and who to hire to free up your time
• Who to hire in order to have your marketing done for you – without needing to be involved in every detail
• Why relying on your marketing alone might not be enough to bring in consistent sales, and what team member to add to bring in the sale
• How to set up new team members for success with the right role descriptions, systems, and clear expectations (so they’re not waiting around for your next instruction!)
• And so, so much more

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell

Episode 247 with Dan Martell | Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empires

EP313 - What If You Followed That Hunch? The Power of Pursuing Curiosity in Business with Valerie Khoo

What does the superyachting industry have to do with your leadership style?

Turns out, a whole lot.

In this episode, I’m joined by Karine Rayson, an expert in leadership and mental health within the superyacht industry – where teams are required to live and work together 24/7 out at sea. And in that intense environment… leadership matters.

And it’s no different for your business. These leadership and communication skills are foundational for any business, even if you’re on dry land.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• The metric that sets high-performing teams apart from the rest, and why authoritative leadership is a recipe for ego issues and disengagement.
• The parallels between life on a superyacht and running a small business – and why it all boils down to leadership and strong team communication.
• The (so often overlooked!) layers of communication that build trust.
• How to spot the small, physical signs that signal something’s wrong before it’s too late.
• Why slipping work, a lack of eye contact, or mismatched energy might actually be a silent plea for support from your team (and what you can do to turn things around).
• Karine’s psychology-backed tips to make your team feel seen and valued – and why success all starts at onboarding.
• What emotional literacy really means (and what it DOESN’T!), and why self-awareness is the foundation of leading others well.
• The most uncomfortable, but essential, thing you can do as a leader to grow your emotional intelligence and improve your team’s ability to work well together.
• Why shifting from an authoritative leader to a facilitator actually creates a more connected, motivated, and purpose-driven team.
• Karine’s leadership non-negotiables to create a psychologically safe space, lead people in the same direction towards your ultimate goal,
• And so, so much more…

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Flung Ceramics with Michelle Cox

Michelle Cox’s Podcast - One Question